The Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots Photis Photiou described the NEPOMAK “Discover Cyprus” programme as a unique opportunity for the new Diaspora generation from all countries to get to know Cyprus better, at an event held on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace.
Welcoming the participants of the programme after two years of postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, Photiou said that the new generation are the future leaders of the Diaspora, the people who will even aspire for political office in the countries where they live and for this reason they should know Cyprus.
“We work very closely with NEPOMAK and we do everything possible by dedicating a large part of the budget to programmes for the new generation,” Photiou said, adding that the July 26 congress will also celebrate the organisation’s 20-year anniversary, during which it has managed to move forward with the support of the state, the Cypriot people and diaspora organisations abroad.
Apart from this programme, which is aimed at young people aged 18-23, there is another one for young people between 24 and 30 years old, and recently 11 children aged 12-17 from the USA were in Cyprus, which “gives hope that we will continue these programmes”.
This may be a period of rest and relaxation, but it is also a golden period for young people to make good use of their stay in the country and learn more about Cyprus, Fotiou continued, adding that there is cooperation with most universities in Cyprus for distance learning courses on history and language offered to the new generation abroad, as well as scholarships for young people from the diaspora.
“The Presidential Palace sends the message of our determination to continue the struggle, to reunite our country, to end the occupation on our island. We want an island for all its legitimate inhabitants, an island where Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites, Latins can live in peace,” Photiou said, adding that this is the effort of the President of the Republic himself, to continue the struggle despite obstacles, despite the intransigence of the other side, to reach a solution in Cyprus, safeguarding at the same time the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, without guarantees and interventionist rights by other countries.
“In this effort, Greek Diaspora has always been a great support for Cyprus, parents, grandparents fought abroad to defend the interests of our homeland, fought abroad in decision making centres and you are called upon to continue these struggles,” he noted.
“We are always grateful and always proud of our Diaspora, they are the best ambassadors of Cyprus abroad. But above all, we are proud of you, the young generation of the Diaspora, who remind us that its future belongs to and you must be supported,” he concluded.
Source: Cyprus News Agency